Sebastian Herrerahttp://kut.org
enThis Busy Strip of Guadalupe Street is Getting a Protected Bike Lane (Update)http://kut.org/post/busy-strip-guadalupe-street-getting-protected-bike-lane-update
<p><strong>Update</strong>: While it was being used as soon as the concrete dried, today marks the official opening of the city&rsquo;s latest &ldquo;cycle track&rdquo; &ndash; a protected stretch of bike lane on Guadalupe Street from MLK Jr. Boulevard to 24th Street.</p><p>&ldquo;Street ambassadors&rdquo; including representatives from Capital Metro and the police department will be present along the track to educate the public. They are located in front of the <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/R85Es">University Co-op</a> today, and will reappear there on Monday. Oct. 21.</p><p>Non-profit Bike Austin has also launched an awareness campaign about the track. You can <a href="http://bikeaustin.org/education/changing-lanes-austins-cycle-tracks/">learn more about it here</a>, and see a diagram of the cycle track below.</p><p>Thu, 17 Oct 2013 18:01:33 +0000Sebastian Herrera8519 at http://kut.orgThis Busy Strip of Guadalupe Street is Getting a Protected Bike Lane (Update)Austin 20th Best Convention City in the Countryhttp://kut.org/post/austin-20th-best-convention-city-country
<p></p><p>Austin is now in the top 20 of the country’s most popular convention destinations. That’s according to event management company Cvent. It its 2013 rankings of the <a href="http://www.cvent.com/rfp/top-50-meeting-destinations-8f37858e7c5c48b893fe0c1e429710d8.aspx">top U.S. cities for meeting and events</a>, Austin ranks&nbsp;20th out of the 50 top ranked U.S. cities.</p><p>Austin’s current position is four spots up from the company's 2012 rankings. And in its current location, Austin ranks right under major convention cities like Houston (19th) and Boston (18th).</p><p>Fri, 23 Aug 2013 18:49:41 +0000Sebastian Herrera8531 at http://kut.orgAustin 20th Best Convention City in the CountryACC to Start Sustainable Agriculture Programhttp://kut.org/post/acc-start-sustainable-agriculture-program
<p></p><p>Sustainable agriculture has found a new home in Austin – and students are the first to benefit from it.</p><p><a href="http://www.austincc.edu/">Austin Community College</a>&nbsp;is set to launch its Sustainable Agricultural&nbsp;Entrepreneurship program, teaching agricultural knowledge and skills in sustainable crop growth. The program will include three different non-credit courses that will be held at ACC's new 98-acre&nbsp;<a href="http://www.austincc.edu/elgin/">Elgin Campus.&nbsp;</a></p>Fri, 16 Aug 2013 17:47:52 +0000Sebastian Herrera8496 at http://kut.orgACC to Start Sustainable Agriculture ProgramAustin Sets Export Record: $9 Billionhttp://kut.org/post/austin-sets-export-record-9-billion
<p>Exporting everything from <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/">semiconductors</a> to <a href="http://www.stubbsbbq.com/">barbecue sauce</a>, the Austin metropolitan area set a new $9 billion record for exports in 2012.</p><p>The total was an increase of 4.1 percent, or $350 million, according to <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/726203-austin-international-trade-association.html">an announcement yesterday</a> by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA). The announcement says the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area was the 35th largest U.S. export for 2012.&nbsp;</p><p>Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:32:33 +0000Sebastian Herrera8352 at http://kut.orgAustin Sets Export Record: $9 BillionBurn Bans Issued for Austin and Central Texas http://kut.org/post/burn-bans-issued-austin-and-central-texas
<p>Dry conditions have led to more burn bans being issued for Austin and surrounding areas.</p><ul><li>The <a href="http://austintexas.gov/department/parks-and-recreation">Austin Parks and Recreation Department</a> issued a burn ban today for all city parks.</li></ul><p>The ban temporarily prohibits open fires and grilling in parks. Smoking continues to be prohibited in parks. The ban does not include propane grills and stoves in designated picnic areas.</p><p>Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:46:15 +0000Sebastian Herrera8330 at http://kut.orgBurn Bans Issued for Austin and Central Texas Fireworks Likely to Blame for 57 Travis County Fireshttp://kut.org/post/fireworks-likely-blame-57-travis-county-fires
<p><a href="http://austintexas.gov/department/fire">The Austin Fire Department</a> says there were 57 grass and brush fires in Travis County over the Fourth of July, 30 of those fires were within the Austin city limits.</p><p>The fire department believes many of the fires were caused by fireworks.</p><p>"Certainly these smaller grass fires can extend to homes and businesses. And you know there is always the chance of people getting injured using the fireworks," AFD Battalion Chief Thayer Smith said.Fri, 05 Jul 2013 18:02:00 +0000Sebastian Herrera8298 at http://kut.orgFireworks Likely to Blame for 57 Travis County FiresTexas Passes 50 Justice Bills, Covering Death Row to Juvenile Hall http://kut.org/post/texas-passes-50-justice-bills-covering-death-row-juvenile-hall
<p>The 2013 regular session ended with&nbsp;&nbsp;50 new criminal and juvenile justice bills passed and signed into law.</p><p>Legislators passed bills focused on reducing the number of individuals wrongfully convicted or incarcerated&nbsp;in Texas. That included Senate Bill 344, which will "require state to perform DNA testing in any capital offense where the state is seeking the death penalty."</p><p>Fri, 05 Jul 2013 17:09:37 +0000Sebastian Herrera8281 at http://kut.orgTexas Passes 50 Justice Bills, Covering Death Row to Juvenile Hall According to Lance Armstong, He Still Holds Tour de France Recordshttp://kut.org/post/according-lance-armstong-he-still-holds-tour-de-france-records
<p class="p1">Tomorrow marks the 100th edition of the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong — despite being stripped of his 7 Tour de France titles — still believes he's the race's greatest contender.</p><p><span class="s1" style="line-height: 1.5;">According to the </span><span style="line-height: 1.5;">French newspaper </span><a href="http://www.lemonde.fr/" style="line-height: 1.5;">Le Monde</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/lancearmstrong" style="line-height: 1.5;">Lance Armstrong</a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;said he still considers himself the record-holder of tour victories despite being stripped of his titles this year after admitting to doping allegations.</span></p><p>Fri, 28 Jun 2013 17:52:48 +0000Sebastian Herrera8244 at http://kut.orgAccording to Lance Armstong, He Still Holds Tour de France RecordsBig Tex to Talk Again: State Fair Picks Voice for 55-Foot Cowboyhttp://kut.org/post/big-tex-talk-again-state-fair-picks-voice-55-foot-cowboy
<p>Big Tex’s big comeback has reached an important step: <a href="http://www.bigtex.com/sft/index.asp">The State Fair of Texas</a>&nbsp;has chosen a new voice for the iconic, talking statue.</p><p>But according to <a href="http://keranews.org/">KERA News</a>&nbsp;in Dallas, fair officials won’t announce who will voice the new Big Tex until he’s unveiled on September 27 – opening day at the fair.&nbsp;</p><p>Fri, 21 Jun 2013 15:56:51 +0000Sebastian Herrera8191 at http://kut.orgBig Tex to Talk Again: State Fair Picks Voice for 55-Foot CowboyHundreds Denied Chance to Speak at Texas Capitol Abortion Hearinghttp://kut.org/post/hundreds-denied-chance-speak-texas-capitol-abortion-hearing
<p>Hundreds of people who had signed up to testify at a <a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/schedules/html/C4502013062013001.HTM" target="_blank">Texas House Committee hearing</a> on<a href="http://www.kutnews.org/post/texas-senate-bill-could-essentially-ban-abortion-statewide" target="_blank"> abortion restrictions</a> yesterday didn’t get to speak. Committee Chairman Byron Cook closed testimony after 3 a.m. Friday.</p><p>The House Committee on State Affairs was considering legislation that would <a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=831&amp;Bill=HB00060" target="_blank">require abortion facilities</a> to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers and<a href="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=831&amp;Bill=HB00016" target="_blank"> ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy</a>. The committee didn't vote on the bills.</p><p>Fri, 21 Jun 2013 13:05:14 +0000Laura Rice & Sebastian Herrera8189 at http://kut.orgHundreds Denied Chance to Speak at Texas Capitol Abortion HearingAfter Deadly 2012, What's Austin Doing to Make ROT Rally Safer? http://kut.org/post/after-deadly-2012-whats-austin-doing-make-rot-rally-safer
<p>The 2013 <a href="http://www.rotrally.com/">Republic of Texas (ROT) Bike Rally</a>&nbsp;is starting today. And safety is a concern.</p><p>According to the&nbsp;Austin Police Department, 2012's ROT Rally weekend saw in 175 crashes, 95 injuries, 104&nbsp;DWI&nbsp;arrests and five deaths&nbsp;– three of which included motorcycles.&nbsp;</p><p>Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:45:00 +0000Sebastian Herrera8094 at http://kut.orgAfter Deadly 2012, What's Austin Doing to Make ROT Rally Safer? City Council Passes Rental Registration, Paid Parental Leavehttp://kut.org/post/city-council-passes-rental-registration-paid-parental-leave
<p>A debate over two Austin City Council proposals to track problem rental properties continued into the early hours of the morning.</p><p>After hearing from many Austinites about the issue, council members voted unanimously to pass an effort to create a registry for properties with a history of violations. A similar move to track all rental properties in certain parts of the city passed 5 to 2.</p><p>City employees will soon be able to take 30 days of paid parental leave.</p>Fri, 07 Jun 2013 13:48:48 +0000Sebastian Herrera & Laura Rice8037 at http://kut.orgCity Council Passes Rental Registration, Paid Parental Leave Possible Rainey Development Could Deal 'Death Stroke' to Neighborhoodhttp://kut.org/post/possible-rainey-development-could-deal-death-stroke-neighborhood
<p>East Austin activists gathered today at the Mexican American Cultural Center to protest development of the historic Rainey Street District.</p><p>Members from Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin (HABLA) say a proposed high-rise tower would overshadow the neighborhood that's seen its share of attention from developers looking to break into the budding entertainment district.</p><p>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:40:00 +0000Sebastian Herrera & Roy Varney8014 at http://kut.org Possible Rainey Development Could Deal 'Death Stroke' to Neighborhood